AI/GS/NS/156/2025
Amnesty International Ghana expresses deep concern over the violent attack on the Director of Operations of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) and his team on Saturday, 1 November 2025, at Hwidiem in the Ahafo Region. According to reports from the Ghana Police Service and other credible news sources, the team was carrying out its lawful duties when the situation escalated into a confrontation involving community members, resulting in damaged vehicles, physical threats, and a breakdown of security at the Hwidiem Police Station.
As an organisation committed to the protection of human rights, security, and accountability, we are troubled by the implications this incident poses for frontline personnel tasked with enforcing Ghana’s environmental laws. NAIMOS is a specialised unit under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, mandated to coordinate and lead intelligence-driven operations against illegal mining, an activity that poses significant risks to the country’s water bodies, forest reserves, and communities. It is therefore essential that those deployed to support this national mission operate under conditions that guarantee their physical safety, psychological security, and legal protection.
The chaotic scene marked by confrontation, vandalism, and threats of violence raises urgent questions about the preparedness, protection, and legal authority of NAIMOS operatives when faced with community backlash. While we acknowledge the complexity of illegal mining interventions in local communities, it remains a fundamental human rights principle that all persons, including state operatives, have the right to life, dignity, and protection under the law.
We therefore call attention to the following concerns brought to light by this incident:
- Lack of Clear Safety and Operational Guidelines: It remains unclear what rules of engagement, defensive instructions, and safety protocols are provided to NAIMOS teams, especially when operating in communities that may perceive enforcement actions as a threat to livelihoods or local interests. The absence of documented protocols heightens the risk of harm to both operatives and community members.
- Uncertainty Around Legal Authority in Confrontational Situations: There is a pressing need for clarity on the legal mandate of NAIMOS teams when they encounter resistance or violence. What level of authority do they have to protect themselves? To what extent can they act in self-defence? And what are the legal steps to follow when suspects are forcibly released during an operation?
- Protection of Frontline Workers: Frontline officials executing state-assigned tasks deserve comprehensive protection, including proper briefing, equipment, reinforcement support, and secure channels for reporting threats. Any vacuum in operational planning endangers their lives and undermines public trust in anti-galamsey interventions.
In light of these concerns, we strongly urge the government and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to urgently develop and publicly establish legal, operational, and human-rights-aligned safety guidelines for all NAIMOS operatives and related enforcement units. Such guidelines should include:
- Clear rules of engagement and de-escalation protocols
- Defined legal authority during arrests, transfers, and confrontations
- Safety procedures for high-risk community operations
- Protective mechanisms for operatives facing threats or attacks
- Community-engagement frameworks that minimise conflict and prioritise safety
We further call for swift and transparent investigations into the Hwidiem incident to ensure accountability, reinforce public confidence, and prevent future occurrences. Accountability is not only a matter of justice but also a necessary foundation for sustainable, rights-based anti-illegal mining interventions.
Amnesty International Ghana stands firmly by the principle that the safety of all persons and affected groups remains central in Ghana’s fight against illegal mining. We reiterate that no frontline worker should be placed in harm’s way without clear safety measures, legal backing, and institutional support.
Amnesty International is a movement of 10 million people which mobilises humanity in everyone and campaigns for change so we can all enjoy our human rights. We are independent of any government, political ideology, economic interest, or religion. We believe that acting in solidarity and compassion with people everywhere can change our societies for the better.
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